The 2018 flu epidemic has intensified

It is just one of those years where the flu just wants to kick our rears and send us to our beds or to the hospital. This epidemic while not as bad as the one in 1918, is currently the worse one since 2009’s swine flu.

A medicine that can treat the flu but is to expensive for long treatment; photo from truemedcost.com

Multiple schools across the nation have canceled school because how bad the flu has affected children this year. Since October 1st, there has been 37 flu-related deaths in children, confirmed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 40 states and Puerto Rico are currently experiencing high activity of influenza- like illness, this number is according to the recent report from the CDC.

One of the known medicines to treat the flu, Tamiflu is running low while families across the nation try to fight away the sickness. Walgreens, one of the nation’s top drugstore chains has had to deal with a sudden surge in demand for Tamiflu and they are out of the medicine is some versions. They do expect to have a new shipment in the next few days.

According to ABC News’ chief medical expert, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, Tamiflu is some what effective in treating the flu but actually is more effective when used to prevent the flu. Ashton did say that it is “not feasible” to take the medicine from October to May, the length of the flu season.

And she is right, the drug over a five day period will cost you over $100 and in just one month for prevention will hit your wallet very hard at a cost of $600.

Of course the cheapest way to prevent the flu is to get your annual flu shot but there is some people who will refuse to get the shot or people who shouldn’t get the shot like people who are severely allergic to eggs.

For more information about how to treat the flu or to prevent it, go to the CDC’s website or look at the information channels that are all over the campus here at Radford.